Surgical suction device



March 14, 1967 J R CRUSE SURGICAL SUCTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 2. 1963 mummy m1 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH R. CR

March 14, 1967 J. R. CRUSE SURGICAL SUCTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1963 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH R. CRUSE United States Patent Oflice 3 53 8325 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 3,308,825 SURGICAL SUCTION DEVICE Joseph R. Cruse, Silver Spring, Md. (2282 Alhambra Drive, Palm Springs, Calif. 92262) Filed Aug. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 299,561

11 Claims. (Cl. 128-276) The present invention relates to improvements in suc tion devices adapted particularly for dental and surgical uses.

Such suction devices are an important part of almost all dental and surgical procedures. They provide evacuation of irrigation fluid, blood and other excess body fluids from the operative field. Such evacuation of fluid also enables the surgeon visually to observe smaller bleeding blood vessels for purposes of clamping or suturing.

Such suction devices ordinarily consist essentially of a suction source, a trap for the collection of wastes, connector tubings and a suction tip which is the component actually used in the operative area. Many shapes and sizes of such suction tips have heretofore been employed. The placement of orifices may vary such as circumferentially on the distal end and or along the sides of the suction tip. Such discharge orifices or ports are, of course, necessary but soft tissue, serosal surfaces, gauze sponges, soft blood clots, and the like, tend to adhere to or actually become incarcerated in the orifices with resultant trauma and hemorrhage of the more delicate tissues. Further, when such blood clots and other matter dry and solidify, much time and eifort is required to clean an obstructed tip during or following a procedure.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a greatly improved suction tip for use with surgical suction devices of the foregoing general character.

Among its more particular objects the invention contemplates the provision of a suction tip wherein the discharge ports are protected so as to tend to prevent entry of tissue, membrane, soft blood clots, gauze sponges or the like into the fluid discharge ports so as to prolong the operativeness of the tip and to facilitate its cleaning for reuse.

Another object of the invention is to dispose the discharge ports in the tip in such a manner that complete stoppage is highly unlikely and at least some of the ports remain constantly clear to provide some degree of operative suction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suction tip wherein the effective suctioning surface may be selectively varied so that the tip may be adjusted for particular requirements. For example, the suctioning surface may be completely open for fast evacuation such as when removing irrigation fluid 'or it may be restricted for finer suction such as when employed for identifying injured blood vessels or blood vessel stumps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a suction tip wherein provision is made for the shearing off of any non-fluid material which may penetrate and clog the discharge ports so as to clean and reopen such ports to maintain the tip in operative suction condition.

In its more specific aspects the invention contemplates the combination of an outer apertured tube and a telescoping inner suction tube adjustable relative to the apertures or discharge ports of the outer tube so as to regulate the degree of suction, the said inner tube also being provided with an annular cutting edge to shear off any material tending to clog any of the discharge ports.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodi ments of the principles of the invention have been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a suction tip constructed in accordance with the invention shown attached to a manipulating handle and suction rod adapted for connecti-on to a suction source;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the suction tip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2 and showing the inner suction tube in fully retracted position with respect to the outer tube;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the tip;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the surgical suction device as in use and indicating its operative connection to a source of suction;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the inner suction tube in fully extended position Within the outer tube;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the shearing action of the inner tube relative to the discharge ports of the outer tube; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of wall defining the groove provided along the exterior of the outer tube.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the suction tip of the present invention is indicated in its entirety at 10 and is shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 as attached to the free end of a suction rod 12 and manipulating handle H which in turn are operatively connected to a source of suction indicated by the motor M, pump P and trap T, such as is usually avaiable in the ordinary hospital operating room. Of course, any other sourceof suction may also be employed.

The suction tip 10 is composed of an outer tubular member 14 and an inner telescoping open ended suction tubular member 16 each formed of any suitable rigid material, stainless steel or plastic, for example. Conveniently, the inner tube 16 may be an extension of the suction rod 12, as shown.

The outer tube 14 is provided with annular ribs 18 defining an external groove 20 extending substantially along the length of the tube. The groove 20 communicates through the ports 22 with the interior of the tube 12 for the drainage of material through such ports to the suction end of inner tube 16. The side ports 22 are preferably arranged in longitudinal quandrant series. The groove 20 is preferably in the form of a continuous helix to provide a continuous conveying path for the withdrawn fluid so that, for example, if one port is clogged the fluid will pass to the next. The ribs 18 are preferably widened at their outer end extremities so as to restrict entry of material which might tend to clog the wider ports 22. However, for convenience of manufacture or other reason the modified form of ribs shown at 24 in FIG. 9 may be employed if desired.

A further discharge port 26 is provided at the forward free end portion of the outer tube 14 and radialy extending grooves 28 form tracks for the entry of fluid to the port 26. As will also be apparent, the walls defining the grooves 28 project forwardly of the port 26 so that if the free end of the tube 14 bears against flesh or solid matter the recessed grooves 28 continue to provide for the drainage of fluid through the recessed port 26. As a further advantage when the grooves 28 and port 26 are in suction operation the device may be tilted to en able the surgeon clearly to see the injured or cut ends of bleeding blood vessels during the suction process.

The inner suction tube 16 has an open free end for the entry of fluid drawn through the ports 22 or 26 and is slidable within the outer tube 14 as indicated by its extreme positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. Provision is also made for the locking of the inner tube 16 in any selected position along the length of the outer tube 14 so as to regulate the degree of suction, as will hereinafter be explained. The free end portion of the inner tube 16 carries at its forward free end portion outwardly extending threads 30 of a diameter greater than that of the tube 16 such as closely to clear the inner wall of the outer tube 14. For shearing off any tissue, clots or other material which may extend through and tend to clog the side ports 22 as indicated in FIG. 8 an annular cutting blade 32 is provided at the forward free end of the inner tube 16.

For securing the outer tube 14 to the end portion of the suction rod 12 the reduced rearward end portion of the tube is externally threaded as indicated at 34 for threaded engagement with an annular cap 36 encircling the rod 12 or its extension 16. An O-ring 38 is positioned between the cap 36 and the rearward end extremity of the tube 14 to permit free longitudinal movement of the inner suction tube 16 when the ()-ring is in relaxed condition as shown in FIG. 3 and to lock the tube 16 in any selected longitudinal position by frictional engagement with the outer Wall of the tube when the O-ring is in compressed condition as shown in FIG. 7.

The reduced rearward end portion of the outer tube 14 is also internally threaded as indicated at 4.0 to mate with threaded portion 30 of the inner tube 16 when the inner tube is in fully retracted position as shown in FIG. 3. It will be apparent that when in such retracted position all ports of the outer tube 14 are open for the ingress of fluid along the length and at the tip of the outer tube. It will also be apparent that when the portion 30 is in forward unthreaded engagement and the O-ring 38 is relaxed the inner tube 16 may be extended into the outer tube 14 any desired distance up to its fully extended position as shown may be desired. Turning of the knurled annular cap 36 so as to expand the O-ring 38 against the outer wall of the inner tube 16 will, of course, lock or anchor the inner tube in any such extended position.

For some uses of the device it may not be necessary to employ the slidable inner suction tube 16 and in such cases it may be omitted and the outer tube 14 attached directly to the suction rod 12.

It is to be understood that my invention is not confined to the precise construction and arrangement of parts as herein illustrated and described but embraces all such modifications thereof as may come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a surgical suction device, a suction tip which comprises, an outer tube having an end wall at its free end, an external helical groove provided substantially along the length of said outer tube, a plurality of side ports communicating said groove with the interior of said outer tube, an external transverse groove provided at the free end portion of said outer tube, a port communicating said transverse groove with the interior of said outer tube, an open end inner suction tube axially slidable inwardly of said outer tube for withdrawing fluid material introduced through said ports, annular means carried exteriorly of said inner tube for shearing non-fluid material protruding through the side ports of said outer tube as said inner tube slides across said side ports, and means for locking said inner tube in selected position relative to said outer tube.

along the length of said outer tube, a plurality of side ports communicating said groove with the interior of said outer tube, an open end inner suction tube axially slidable inwardly of said outer tube for withdrawing'fluid material introduced through said ports, annular means carried exteriorly of said inner tube for shearing non-fluid material protruding through the side ports of said outer tube as said inner tube slides across said ports, and means for locking said inner tube in selected position relative to said outer tube.

3. In a surgical suction device, a suction tip which comprises, an outer tube having an end wall at its free end, an external helical groove provided substantially along the length of said outer tube, a pluralityof side ports communicating said groove with the interior of said outer tube, an external transverse groove provided at the free end portion of said outer tube, a port communicating said transverse groove with the interior of said outer tube, an open end inner suction tube axially slidable inwardly of said outer tube for withdrawing fluid material introduced through said ports, and annular means carried exteriorly of said inner tube for shearing non-fluid material protruding through the side ports of said outer tube as said inner tube slides across said side ports.

4. In a surgical suction device, a suction tip which comprises, an outer tube having an end wall at its free end, an external helical groove provided substantially along the length of said outer tube, a plurality of side ports communicating said groove with the interior of said outer tube, an open end inner suction tube axially slidable inwardly of said outer tube for withdrawing fluid material introduced through said ports, and annular means carried exteriorly of said inner tube for shearing non-fluid material protruding through the side ports of said outer tube as said inner tube slides across said ports.

57 In a surgical suction device, a suction tip which comprises, an outer tube having an end wall at its free end, an external helical groove provided substantially along the length of said outer tube, a plurality of side ports communicating said groove with the interior of said outer tube, an external transverse groove provided at the free end portion of said outer tube, a port communicating said transverse groove with the interior of, said outer tube, an open end inner suction tube axially slidable inwardly of said outer tube for withdrawing fluid material introduced through said ports, and means for locking said inner tube in selected position relative to said outer tube.

6. In a surgical suction device, a' suction tip which comprises, an outer tube, an external helical groove provided substantially along the length of said outer tube, a plurality, of side ports communicating said groove with the interior of said outer tube, an open end inner suction tube axially slidable inwardly of said outer tube for withdrawing fiuid material introduced through said ports, and means for locking said inner tube in selected position relative to said outer tube.

7. A suction tip for a surgical suction device which comprises, telescoping relatively slidable inner and outer tubes, the said outer tube having an end wall at its free end, outwardly projecting annular ribs carried by said outer tube and defining grooved areas at the outer surface of said outer tube, ports provided in the wall of said outer tube to communicate said grooved areas with the interior of said outer tube for the ingress of fluid through said ports, the said inner tube being adapted for connection to a source of suction and having an inlet port exposing said fluid to said suction and means for locking said tubes in selected relative telescoping position.

8. The suction tip of claim 7 additionally including blade means carried by said inner tube for shearing any non-fluid material projecting through the outer tube ports.

9. The suction tip of claim 7 wherein the ports are provided substantially along the length of the side wall of the outer tube.

5 6 10. The suction tip of claim 9 additionally including 2,614,563 10/ 1952 Devine 128276 a port in the end wall of the outer tube. 2,742,701 4/ 1956 Berger 3233 11. The suction tip of claim 10 wherein grooved areas 2,822,808 2/1958 Boone 128-276 communicating with the end Wall port are provided in 3,136,316 6/1964 Beall 128-350 the end wall of the outer tube. 5 FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 1,161,400 8/ 195 3 r UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 030 543 6/1 1 S RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner,

9 2 aunder 128241 2,610,627 9/1952 Watt et 1 128 239 10 C. F. ROSENBAUM, Asszstant Examiner. 

1. IN A SURGICAL SUCTION DEVICE, A SUCTION TIP WHICH COMPRISES, AN OUTER TUBE HAVING AN END WALL AT ITS FREE END, AND EXTERNAL HELICAL GROOVE PROVIDED SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID OUTER TUBE, A PLURALITY OF SIDE PORTS COMMUNICATING SAID GROOVE WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID OUTER TUBE, AN EXTERNAL TRANSVERSE GROOVE PROVIDED AT THE FREE END PORTION OF SAID OUTER TUBE, A PORT COMMUNICATING SAID TRANSVERSE GROOVE WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID OUTER TUBE, AN OPEN END INNER SUCTION TUBE AXIALLY SLIDABLE INWARDLY OF SAID OUTER TUBE FOR WITHDRAWING FLUID MATERIAL INTRODUCED THROUGH SAID PORTS, ANNULAR MEANS CARRIED EXTERIORLY OF SAID INNER TUBE FOR SHEARING NON-FLUID MATERIAL PROTRUDING THROUGH THE SIDE PORTS OF SAID OUTER TUBE AS SAID INNER TUBE SLIDES ACROSS SAID SIDE PORTS, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID INNER TUBE IN SELECTED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID OUTER TUBE. 